Page of Pentacles tarot card meaning: upright, reversed and symbols

The Page of Pentacles stands in a green meadow full of flowers, holding up a pentacle with both hands and gazing at it with complete focus. Plowed fields and trees lie behind.

It is the student of the earth suit: practical, patient and willing to learn. Here is what the Page of Pentacles means upright and reversed, the symbols in the 1909 card and how to read the Page as a person or an energy.

Here is the Page of Pentacles at a glance.

In Book T this Page is the Princess of the Echoing Hills, the Rose of the Palace of Earth, Earth of Earth, on Malkuth. She rules the quarter of the heavens centered on Taurus and is the throne of the Ace of Pentacles. As Earth of Earth she is the most grounded figure in the whole court. The astrology printed on my first deck is a separate, later system.

The card: what Pamela Colman Smith drew

Waite wrote: “A youthful figure, looking intently at the pentacle which hovers over his raised hands. He moves slowly, insensible of that which is about him.” Insensible means unaware. The Page is so focused that nothing else exists.

The raised pentacle. The Page holds the coin up and studies it. A practical goal becomes something to learn about, not just to want.

The plowed field. Behind the Page the earth has been prepared for planting. The ground is ready, and growth will be slow.

Moving slowly. Waite says the Page moves slowly. This beginner is not in a hurry.

Upright meaning

Upright, the Page of Pentacles is the eager student. A young person stands in a green meadow, holding a pentacle up with both hands and gazing at it with complete focus. Plowed fields and trees lie behind. The card speaks of learning, new ventures, ambition and the beginning of something practical.

The Page brings news about money, work or study. It is a good card for starting a course, an apprenticeship or a new job. The Page is careful and serious, interested in learning how things actually work.

Focus is the gift here. The Page is not distracted. Choose one thing and give it your full attention.

Reversed meaning

Reversed, the Page of Pentacles can show laziness, procrastination or a lack of commitment. It can also show unrealistic plans, or learning without applying.

Ask what is stopping you from starting. A reversed Page often needs a small first step.

Reversed, the Page can also describe study that never leaves the page: courses bought and not finished, books read and not applied. Choose one thing you have learned recently and use it this week, even in a small way.

In love, work and spirituality

In love. Upright: A slow, steady start, or practical expressions of love. Reversed: Lack of effort, or a partner who is not serious.

At work. Upright: A new job, apprenticeship or study. Reversed: Procrastination, or missed opportunities.

With money. Upright: Learning about money, or a small new income. Reversed: Careless money habits.

In spiritual practice. Upright: Learning earth magic, or studying a tradition carefully. Reversed: Lack of commitment to practice.

As feelings. Interested and serious, thinking long term.

As a person. A careful, studious and practical young person.

As advice. Focus on one thing, and learn it well.

Reading the Page of Pentacles: positions and yes or no

In the past position: A practical beginning set you on this path. In the present position: Study, practice and stay patient.

In the future position: A chance to learn or a practical offer is coming. As advice: Take one small, practical step.

In modern yes or no readings, the Page of Pentacles leans yes. A practical start points to yes.

The page in the tarot court, and the history behind the card

As the youngest member of the earth court, the Page carries practical energy as a fresh impulse. In the Golden Dawn scheme, Princesses are the element made physical, which makes this card earth made doubly solid.

Here is how the Page looks across the four suits:

• Page of Wands: curiosity, enthusiasm, new opportunities
• Page of Cups: intuition, creativity, emotional openness
• Page of Swords: curiosity, mental agility, sharp questions
• Page of Pentacles (this card): ambition, new ventures, learning

When A. E. Waite published The Pictorial Key to the Tarot in 1910, he listed these divinatory meanings for the Page of Pentacles: “Application, study, scholarship, reflection; another reading says news, messages and the bringer thereof; also rule, management.” Reversed, he gave: “Prodigality, dissipation, liberality, luxury, unfavorable news.”

Common questions

Is the Page of Pentacles a yes or no card? Yes. It favors practical beginnings.

Who is the Page of Pentacles as a person? Often a patient, studious, practical person, or a beginner of any age. It can be any gender.

What does the Page of Pentacles mean in love? A slow, sincere start. Reversed, not making time.

Try this

Try this small spread for the Page of Pentacles. Use it when starting something practical.

Affirmation: I approach learning with curiosity and practical attention.

Reversed affirmation: I make room for an imperfect first attempt.

If you keep a tarot journal, take one of these questions to it: What practical skill do I want to learn? What is the smallest version of that I could start today? What will I study next?

What next

Cards that sit close to this one are Ace of Pentacles (the seed the Page is learning to plant), Eight of Pentacles (steady practice) and Page of Swords (the air Page, quick where this one is slow).

The Page of Pentacles is part of the lesson Meet the court in my free Tarot for Beginners course. To see the whole suit on one page, go to the suit of Pentacles.

To keep walking the suit, read the card before it, Ten of Pentacles or the card after it, Knight of Pentacles, or go back to all the card meanings.

For more on the court, see Tarot court cards without confusion. For every card with keywords, affirmations and examples, see my book The Novice’s Guide to Tarot. If you would like a printable cheat sheet for all 78 cards, my 45-page Tarot Workbook is on Etsy.

Sources

• A. E. Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (London: Rider, 1910), Part III, sections 1 and 2.
• Pamela Colman Smith and A. E. Waite, the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot (London: Rider, 1909).
• Nicolas Conver, Tarot de Marseille (Marseille, 1760).
• Lauri Mukkala, The Novice’s Guide to Tarot, entry for the Page of Pentacles.
• Aleister Crowley, 777 (London: Walter Scott, 1909), columns of the decans, the Minor Arcana and the court cards.
• Israel Regardie, ed., The Golden Dawn (Chicago: Aries Press, 1937 to 1940), “Book T”, titles and attributions of the small cards and the court.